Blog

Rehabilitation and Recovery Service annual review

The Recovery Centre at Asket House is an innovative partnership project comprising Touchstone, LYPFT, Community Links and Leeds Mind. Touchstone employs two full-time recovery workers, whose role is to form supportive relationships with service users on ward, then support them to move out into the community. Once the transition is complete, recovery workers can continue to provide support for an additional six months. The ethos behind the new project is that providing strong support following a move from hospital back into the community will

2020-04-17T10:23:55+01:001st December 2016|Annual Report, Blog|

Support Centre annual review

Over the last year, the Support Centre has been busy implementing a new service model which includes: more peer-led social groups and popup groups; volunteers supporting different groups – such as the Women’s Group – Men’s Group and Social Group. Contributions from five Social Work students who have been on placement from Bradford University have also helped to support the change required to deliver a service that is sustainable and continues to meet the diverse needs of our service users. The new model

2020-04-17T10:23:56+01:001st December 2016|Annual Report, Blog|

WorkPlace Leeds annual review

Touchstone works in partnership with Leeds Mind and Community Links to support individuals to achieve their employability goals. All clients are referred to the Touchstone worker via the community mental health teams in Leeds where the Employment Specialists are co-located. Touchstone has one allocated worker a Mental Health Employment Specialist who offers a client centred approach to identifying Employment, Training and Education goals through one-to-one and Group work. The Employment Specialist may also support the individual to access sessions that support a client

2020-04-17T10:24:06+01:001st December 2016|Annual Report, Blog|

Better in Kirklees annual review

Better in Kirklees (BiK) social prescribing service uses an holistic approach to support people to be active and involved in their community, keeping people happier, healthier and independent for longer. We started taking referrals in April 2016 and by July we had 98 people! We connect the people we work with to a wide range of community activities, support and networks such as arts and cultural groups, sports activities, environmental projects and friendship groups. BiK workers talk to each person about how

2020-04-17T10:18:23+01:001st December 2016|Annual Report, Blog, Social Prescribing|

"Thank you for giving me my life back" – Kirklees Peer-Led Brokerage Service case study

After having an epileptic fit I became very poorly. I couldn’t communicate with people – verbally or otherwise. I became very distant from everyone. The impact on my family was huge. Everybody was stressed and worried about me all the time. My dad lost his sense of humour and my parents took time off work to look after me. It didn’t make any sense to me at all. I was trapped, I knew what I wanted to say but I

2020-04-17T10:23:54+01:001st December 2016|Annual Report, Blog|

Thank you, Dosti – focus, friendship and confidence

Two of the women who attend the Dosti group tell their story and explain the difference the support of the group has made to them. I used to attend ESOL classes, but my asthma got really bad so I stopped going. I then stayed at home. My husband passed away in 2011 and my life completely changed. I suffered from severe depression and never left the house, stayed at home

2016-11-28T10:10:23+00:0028th November 2016|Blog, Case Study|

Where leaders are going wrong

A guest blog post by Jolyon Kimble of APCO Worldwide. Last week we held a discussion on leadership with two remarkable leaders. One was Lord Browne, former boss of one of the world's biggest energy companies. As many people know, he's white, and a man. The other was Alison Lowe, Labour Councillor and head of a mental health charity in the north of England. Alison is black, and a woman.

2020-04-17T10:23:53+01:0025th November 2016|Blog, Partnership|

Keep warm this Winter

As Winter sets in, Refat from Touchstone's Support Centre offers some advice on taking the best care of ourselves in the cold weather. I’m sure by now you have all pulled out your winter clothing and bedding, prepared and ready for the cold winter weather ahead; dreading the mornings when we have to wake up half an hour earlier in the morning to scrape the ice of our car window

2020-04-17T10:23:58+01:0021st November 2016|Blog|

Transgender Day of Remembrance

20th November is Transgender Day of Remembrance - a day to look back at Trans people's struggle for acceptance and particularly to remember those who've lost their lives because of the intolerance of others. There are two remembrance services planned in Leeds for the day, one at the Leeds General Infirmary chapel from 11am to 1pm and one in Sovereign Square in the City Centre from 8pm. Research by Transgender Europe shows

2020-04-17T10:23:50+01:0017th November 2016|Blog, LGBT*, News|

World Diabetes Day

Naseem Tariq (manager of Touchstone's Long Term Condition and Diabetes Programme), speaks about World Diabetes Day, and ways to manage or avoid the condition: Today is World Diabetes Day, which has grown every year to become a globally-celebrated event to increase awareness about diabetes. It is proving effective in spreading the message about diabetes and raising awareness for the condition. The theme of World Diabetes Day, from 2014 to 2016 will

2020-04-17T10:20:11+01:0014th November 2016|Blog, Diabetes|